The Strange World of the Charity Shop Orphans

Artist, Emma Harding, began the Charity Shop Orphan project five years ago when she found that a childhood passion had re-surfaced and she couldn’t pass a lone china ornament in a second hand shop without buying it and taking it home, even though she didn’t like them much.

Once home these ubiquitous objects were transformed, re-painted and given a name, grouping them into families such as the Crail’s or the Parmigiani's. These beautifully surreal creatures now take on a personality all of their own that is both humorous and absurd, referencing childhood obsessions with toys such as the sylvanian families.

Here, Emma explains her reasoning:

“In my childhood I shared a room and a large elongated MFI dressing table with my sister. Through the centre of the table was a clear divide, my half and hers. My side always hosted a carefully orchestrated and forever altering parade of china animal ornaments.

What is now apparent to me is how my taste for many of these ornaments could not be rekindled in adulthood and no matter how much I had been drawn to them as a child a different attraction had now taken it’s place. Perhaps a nostalgia or the desire to take a look at past innocent attractions drives me to paint and adorn each one according to my new, adult tastes, redefining their place in my world”

One off signed pieces, each piece arrives in a box with a certificate.

Visit the Ceramic Department to view the whole collection

New Collections Coming Soon...

We're working into the wee hours everyday this month in order to launch all our wonderful new room sets and collections we've been developing. We've been collaborating with some exciting new designers and searching the world for must have items. The collections will be launching from Monday so please keep posted - we really hope you love what we've been doing!

In the meantime why not check out the Folk Exhibition for some one-off limited edition pieces.

Treasures in an Old New York Shoe Shop

Many of you will of already own a pair of Erica Weiner's vintage shoe clips and be constantly transferring them to different shoes because your feet just seem a bit under dressed without them?

Well, we now have the very last pairs in stock. These magic little objects that Erica rescued from an old shoe shop in New York which was closing down after fifty years really do transform old ballet pumps, court shoes and even sandals into couture-like objects that only you have.

They also make wonderful gifts as they are displayed on an Erica Weiner, vintage-inspired presentation card.

£16.50 Available from the Shoe Department

Creatures of the Woodland

I have made it my mission this late summer to hold a fun picnic. The sort that you imagine the Bloomsbury set having in the 1920's. Long sunny afternoons, dressed in unusual outfits and drinking champagne with a raspberry dropped in for good measure. At my magical picnic, or dinner party if wet, I will be giving each one of my glamorous guests an Abigail Brown animal mask to wear - nothing says fun to me than a party with a mask and these beautifully drawn, grown-up versions are perfect for a summer picnic/party.

You may be thinking why on earth would I want to wear an animal mask at a party but, as the bohemian Bloomsbury lot knew, things are much more fun the more adventurous your attire.

So I am picturing my friends in their summer dresses or perhaps high waisted oxford bags lazing around and feeling a little more relaxed as a fox, rabbit, cat or bear. Why not give one to each of your guests and see if the usual need to 'break the ice' seems to vanish!

Woodland Creature Masks

£6.50 each available here in the Exhibition room

There's Beauty on the Outside

This morning I selected a pair of Erica Weiner's miniature Oyster Shell earrings to wear for the day and since then I've been asking myself what it is I love about these tiny wonders?

After much consideration I came to a conclusion: Because the outer shell of the oyster is, lets be honest, not as beautiful as the iridescence mother of pearl it is lined with or as covetable as the glimmering pearl it protects, the shell itself rarely gets the attention it deserves.

That is until Erica decided to celebrate these ancient creatures with these stunningly cast three dimensional earrings. Each one holds three tiny oyster shells as if they have been caught that day, dipped in gold and left to dry in the sunlight.

And as I wear these little wonders I imagine what minuscule pearl is sleeping inside...

Oyster Shell Earrings, £26

Available in the jewellery Department

The Desire to Draw

Ice Creams, hand-printed linen tea towel by Megan Price, £9.50

There is something happening in the world of illustration at the moment. Many of our collections, from wallpaper to bags, are by illustrators-turned designers such as Lee may Foster, Megan Price, Daniel Heath and Bebaroque; each very different but all sharing a love for turning their illustrative drawings into functional objects.

T-shirts & Jumpers, hand-printed by Lee May Foster, £25

This is a trend that sees no sign of slowing down, next month we will be launching new collections by designers who replace the pencil for threads and leather in order to create their illustrations (more on that soon). It was whilst researching the contemporary illustration scene that I came across the House of Illustration, the first museum dedicated solely to the art-form. It's been seven years in the making and they still are fundraising for a permanent building in which to house their collection and hold exhibitions - but in the meantime they have lots of information on-line about illustration and curate exhibitions in host venues such as the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Scarves, hand-printed by Lee May Foster, £24

As you can imagine they are passionate about this subject and write "Illustration is part of our everyday lives, firing our imaginations and evoking memories. It helps us to develop our language and to understand the world around us. And we believe that illustration opens a door to the whole world of arts for everyone."

If you are near London and fancy going to see the very best of contemporary illustrators I would recommend you take a trip to the Best Of British Illustration Exhibition 2009 at London College of Communication (29 July – 12 August) to see over 300 artworks showcasing incredible talents of illustrators who have made a significant contribution to their industry over the last year, including Daniel Pudles’s dramatic editorial image Latitude, Leonard And The Mob, Mind for New Statesman’s Diary Section and also Nishant Choksi’s Winter Roaming, part of Vodafone’s widespread Global airports campaign.

And if you fancy being part of this growing fascination with all things drawn why not have a browse through our site (which is in itself an illustration of a fictional shop) and select your very own piece from the hand-made items we have on display.